How are Community networks (potentially) useful in community
building?
By Peter Day, Brighton
University
Over the last few years there has been a growth in the usage of terms such
as the 'information society', the 'information superhighway', and the Internet.
It seems that almost everyday at least one article can be found on these
subjects in the popular press and lifestyle magazines. Television and radio
too are allocating more and more programme time to the developing new technologies,
and how they are likely to shape our lives in the future. Politicians and
political parties are also keen to announce policies aimed at enabling Britain
to play a leading role in what we are told is a 'technological revolution'.
Much of this populist coverage engages in what is known as 'social forecasting'.
That is to say that the predictions may be right but they might also be
wrong. The simple truth of the matter is that the speed of current technological
development is such that no-one can predict with any degree of certainty
what the future holds for societal uses of technology.
One thing that can safely be predicted however, is that information communication
technologies (ICT) will have a profound impact in terms of societal development.
It is imperative therefore that all sections of society are given the opportunity
to engage in a dialogue that assists in the development of a socially inclusive
'information society'. This section aims to aid that process by suggesting
some areas where the technology might prove useful in facilitating the development
of local communities.
Community networks and community development
It is important to stress that no one community is entirely alike. Each
has its own unique history and culture which impact on, and shape their
sense of identity. They are diverse and dynamic entities, whose evolution
are effected by their surrounding environments.
Communities comprises of individuals, families, groups, organisations and
institutions, all of which, both individually and collectively, contribute
to and effect the development of the whole. Often, they are sources of untapped
skills, expertise and knowledge which, if encouraged and stimulated, can
contribute not only to the development of an individual community itself,
but to society in general.
Today's commercial organisations harness networked technology to improve
business efficiency and effectiveness. Similarly, modern community networks
utilise networked computers interconnected via a telecommunication link
to form a distributed system which provides both community information and
a means of electronic communication within and between communities. In both
commercial and social environments, ICTs are used to increase access to,
and the availability of information; whilst adding to and improving upon
traditional communication channels.
As already indicated, communities consist of individuals, families, groups,
organisations and institutions, to a certain extent they are a form of self-sustaining
social and economic network. Community networks therefore are not a new
phenomenon, what is new however, is the utilisation of ICT to underpin forms
of socio-economic activity or community development.
Before continuing it is worth noting that the term community development
is viewed as something more than just economic development.
There is a distinction which must be made between "development in"
a community, and "development of" a community. The former is a
reduced concept, defining a community as a place of development: i.e. markets;
businesses and modernization, whilst the latter is more inclusive, recognizing
a community as an organic social system that possess its own political and
cultural identity; something more than an arena of ubiquitous trends. By
using this approach as a basis for community development and regeneration,
the participation of the local community can be successfully harnessed.
Community Information Needs
The information needs of each individual citizen within a community varies
according to their personal, family and social circumstances.
It is fair to assume that these needs are met to a varying degree by the
public, private, and not-for-profit sectors of the local community. Hidden
behind this assumption however, is a growing problem for citizens of today's
society. Making and maintaining contact with the growing number of organisations,
groups and agencies that impact on our daily lives is a complex and sometimes
impossible task.
Often these organisations are situated in different locations throughout
the community. It can be difficult, if not impossible for people with children,
no transport, no money, mobility problems, etc. to get to these geographically
dispersed locations. If transportation, etc. is not a problem then very
often a lack of knowledge of the organisations and the services they provide
can be.
It is possible that exclusion from today's society can be created by ignorance
of one's basic rights as a citizen. Access to requisite information at the
right time and in a user friendly and understandable format, together with
the ability to communicate with appropriate organisations should be a basic
right in today's 'information society', it is essential for those suffering
from social exclusion.
Social Exclusion
Social exclusion is a harsh fact of life which can spell hardship and
suffering for many.
It is a term that can be used to describe many states of the human condition,
ranging from the unemployed or the homeless; to the disabled or the elderly.
It can include single-parents; those on low-incomes; ethnic minorities;
or members of other minority groups. However, the phrase social exclusion
can equally be applied to those living in rural and peripheral communities
who for whatever reason are deprived of essential support services.
A Community Information Resource
A community-based information resource which provides local people with
local information across the widest possible spectrum can go some way to
addressing the problem of social exclusion through information deprivation.
Clearly the type of information provided is a central issue to the success
of any community information resource and community-based internet initiatives
are no different. The information needs of any community can only be ascertained
by an exhaustive exercise of community analysis or profiling. In other words,
it is essential that the community is given the fullest opportunity to participate
in the process by being asked about their information needs.
It is impossible to address the entire information needs of any community
at one stroke. It is important therefore that this stage of an Internet-based
community information resource is not seen as a one off. In the same way
as communities evolve and develop, so to do their information needs. As
such, community profiling must be viewed as a dynamic and ongoing process
which is never entirely complete.
For a community information resource to be relevant to a community, it
must also be accessible.
Most people today, still do not have computers in their homes, and even
fewer have modems which enable access to online information resources. This
means a mechanism must be found which enables people to 'drop-in' to sites
located throughout the community. Public access points which encourage the
'drop-in' visitor can be situated in locations such as community centres,
libraries, schools, health centres. Even pubs and supermarkets might be
considered suitable locations.
However, access is not simply an issue of public access points and their
geographic location alone. Citizens must be able to use the technology and
have the capability to use the information. Because these are skills that
most people still do not possess, the issue of access should be linked to
training, education and learning.
Education and Training
If community networks fail to encourage learning throughout the community
through the provision of training and education courses then there is a
risk of them reinforcing existing technological and information elitism.
Physical access alone is worth nothing if citizens can neither use nor exploit
either the technology or the information. Education and training in developing
information handling and ICT skills are therefore also issues of access.
As such they are also an important tool for addressing the problem of social
exclusion.
The pedagogical approach must be tailored to suit needs of users.
For many people the rate of change brought on by technological convergence
and development is frightening. How many people have had problems tuning
in their new VCR? Or have had problems setting it up to record their favourite
programme? Certainly we all know at least one person this applies to, if
not ourselves. Those volunteers and workers involved with community networks
must start by recognizing the reality of technophobia, especially among
the older generation. Teaching methods must reflect this awareness and need
to take the form of a hand holding exercise, allowing people to see both
the strengths and weaknesses of the technology. A sense of honesty about
what the ICT can and cannot do is essential in demystifying computers, et
al.
A common fault among those teaching basic IT skills, etc., even among the
best intentioned, is to adopt the 'see, it's easy' approach. This generally
entails the teacher flashing their hands over the keyboard with blinding
speed and dexterity to achieve the required result. Of course the student
has learnt nothing, except that the teacher knows how to do it. As education
and training have been identified as issues of access, such teaching methods
can be seen to prevent community access. This of course defeats the purpose
of community networks, i.e. community access and participation.
Training and education should be tailored to suit the needs of the learner
and not the teacher. Students should be encouraged to adopt a hands on approach
from day one. Learning resources and lesson handouts should utilise screenshots
that show what each stage of the exercise should look like. Not only is
this a useful reference source for students but it allows them to progress
at their own speed and in their own time.
This learning by doing approach makes learning both fun and interesting
and encourages students to continue and progress, rather than give-up through
frustration.
Developing skills and expertise to improve employability
Facilitating community access to the 'information society' in such a way
allows individual and group utilisation of ICT for social purposes. However,
it also creates a local skills-base which can be harnessed by public and
private sector alike for economic development purposes. Community networks
therefore, by addressing educational and training needs, can stimulate an
improvement in local people's employability by developing much sought after
skills.
Communication Potential
Community networks are more than simple community information networks.
By adopting a learner-centred approach to training and education and incorporating
interactive links with the organisations providing information on the community
information resource, community networks provide a platform for communication.
Such a facility both encourages and enables citizens to participate by providing
access to local groups and organisations and information about the services
they provide.
An example of the communications potential of community networks can be
applied to local government. Electronic networks can be utilised as a tool
for extending democracy and giving the local community access to local government
at an additional level. This can be achieved by creating remote access facilities
to local government service departments at the public access points. Such
an initiative will enable both communication with local government and provide
local people with information from the authorities.
An extension of this provision could be the use of e-mail to provide 'virtual'
councillor's surgeries. Councillors, as elected members of local government,
have a heavy demand on their time. Accessibility to constituents has proven
difficult in the past. The surgery has been an attempt by some councillors
to guarantee a time and a place where constituents can meet elected representatives
and discuss issues of local concern. The usefulness of the surgery depends
on constituents being able to attend the location, at a specified time.
The use of e-mail can circumvent such problems and improve representation
by allowing local citizens access to elected representatives that might
otherwise be denied due to domestic, work or social commitments.
Community networks are not simply about creating an empowered citizenship
through civic participation. They can also create an open space for social
communications. E-mail, bulletin boards, discussion groups, etc. can all
be used to create communities of interest both within and beyond the geographic
boundaries of the local community.
Community networks therefore encourage communications between information
providers and information users, but they fulfil another important social
function in the 'information society'. By encouraging information and communication
links both within and between communities, community networks enable information
users to become information providers by sharing their experiences, knowledge
and expertise with others. This can not only help reinforce a sense of community
identity locally, but also raises the profile and cultural identity of the
community to the outside world.
Social Role of Community Networks
Community networks or virtual communities?
It is important to note that community networks are about people and their
communities, they are not simply electronic networks. ICT can underpin and
aid the activities taking place within a community but they do not replace
and are no substitute for them. Community networks are primarily social
networks which harness ICT to provide an additional means of communication
between individuals/groups/organisations, etc..
Community networks can facilitate the sharing of information between organisations,
and thereby encourage co-operation and collaboration between them. This
approach can be particularly useful to the voluntary sector, by pooling
resources in this way, organisations can avoid duplication of effort; put
clients in touch with other appropriate organisations and agencies; and
meet the needs of their client groups more effectively and efficiently.
Community centres make ideal public access points, or nodes on the community
network because they are often the hub of existing social networks. ICT
can be used to reinforce these social networks by strengthening existing,
and developing new relationships between community groups, organisations
and individuals. A community centre also provides the ideal setting for
community run ICT training and education courses. Schools, public libraries,
supermarkets and even pubs, in fact anywhere where people meet and communicate
can be used to provide some form online access.